Big Trees in Order

After posting about Seven Big Tree Oil Paintings, it seemed like a good idea to figure out when I painted which one so I could see them in order and decide if I am improving or going the other direction. So, here they are in order.

2012
2012, a little later
2013
2013, a little later 
2017 (a gap of 4 years?!)
2018
2021 (a 3 year gap?!)

Interesting – I think the 2 best are the first and the last. So much depends on the quality of the photo, and I don’t have very many to choose from that show the entire tree. But there is also the color variance from photo to photo and tree to tree. As I gain confidence, which happens with experience, I am able to just figure out what colors please me rather than feeling bound to the photo.

If you want a tree like this, the size is 6×18″, the price $165 (plus tax if you live in California). Of course there are larger canvas sizes available (smaller too, but those are for younger eyes and fingers more agile than mine at manipulating paintbrushes). Remember, 

I make art you can understand, of places and things you love, for prices that won’t scare you.

(I hope $165 isn’t scary).

Involved

Success breeds success. After finishing the two custom pencil drawings, it seemed easy to just finish the third. 

Yeppers. Still procrastinating on the giant pencil commission of the big old country house. Productively procrastinating, because I really do like to finish things.

I started out taking photos so I could show you the steps, but then I got so involved that I forgot to stop and take more pictures.

It would have been easier if the tree in the foreground was pruned before the photographer took the shot, but alas, no one was thinking about the fact that someday, some pencil artist might want to know what was behind the branch. I decided it must have been hiding a dormer window.

There are quite a few erasing tools showing up in those 2 progress photos. I used to think that erasing meant I was just an incompetent artist; eventually I have learned to accept it as part of drawing.

Nothing left to procrastinate with, so it is time to become involved with the giant pencil drawing of the big old country house. 

Inspired

The custom pencil drawing of a big old country house was intimidating, so I quickly completed a smaller commissioned pencil drawing. It went so well that I was inspired, even eager*, to begin the second piece in the series of three.

That big window on the left (a sun room?), the shadow cast by the door overhang, the slightly opened window on the right, a hint of stepping stones leading from the drive to the front door, and of course the car in the carport are the details that add charm to this little house. The only change I made was to straighten out the sidewalk.

This was a very satisfying job. Two down, two to go.

*Have you noticed how many people use the word “anxious” when they mean eager? 

Using pencils, oil paint, and murals, I make art that people can understand of places and things they love, for prices that won’t scare them.

Intimidated

I began working on the 16×20″ commissioned pencil drawing of the big old country house. It is a challenge, due to combining several views into one scene, and due to the size. It is intimidating, so I decided to warm up to the task by working on the little old houses from the single little old photos.

No people will be included in the drawing. Can’t see ’em, can’t draw ’em.

That was fun and maybe even a little bit easy. Not too easy, because some of it just had to be guessed at. There is a mop drying on the roof, a broom leaning up against the front window, and the handle of a hoe or shovel leaning against the wall. I don’t know what those vines are or what is supporting them. The shingles on the roof were hard until I figured out how to duplicate the pattern. Grass, in case you are interested, is just organized scribbling.

NEXT! I love to draw, particularly architectural subjects. But you knew that, didn’t you?

Using pencils, oil paint, and murals, I make art that people can understand of places and things they love, for prices that won’t scare them.

Big Old Country House, 3

In case you are just now tuning in, I am making custom art of a big old country house, south of Farmersville in Tulare County, for my new friend Jane and her husband. They chose the angle they like best, and I was so happy that we both liked the same angle.

They were thinking about an oil painting, and chose the size of 16×20″. They also asked if that was a good size to capture all the details, and on this house, there are many many details. Many.

Honesty is the best policy. I showed them a custom 16×20″ oil painting of a house, and said it was not my best work. This meant that although I did the best I could, it wasn’t something that showed the house or my skills very well. The photos I had for that painting weren’t very helpful, so that may have had something to do with it. Indeed, but also everything was just too small for a paintbrush.

I also showed them a custom 24×30″ oil painting of a house, and said that this was a painting I felt proud of. I was not trying to upsell them at all, only to make it clear that I could do a better job on a larger painting.

Then I told them that I do my best detail work in pencil, so if details are what matter the most, then they will be happiest with pencil.

They chose a 16×20″ PENCIL DRAWING!!

Alrightythen (yes, I always think of this as one word), let’s git-‘er-dun!

I love to draw, because I am a Central California artist who uses PENCIL, oil paint, and murals to make art you can understand of places and things you love at prices that won’t scare you.

Big Old Country House, 2

After going through 40 photos of the big old country house, I organized them by main views with accompanying details, and labeled each photo. I’ve learned that this is a very necessary step if I am going to do the best job possible. (In the olden days, I would take a couple of snapshots with my film camera, get them developed, pick one and then just draw it without even showing the customer first. It is a wonder I had any customers at all.)

I have learned to not overwhelm my customers with too many choices. I have also learned that it is good to show some sketches first. I chose the 2 best options, and began to sketch them. Because Jane and I have a lively texting correspondence as we get to know one another better, I sent her this photo of my sketches in progress.

I was adding color in case she and her husband were going to choose an oil painting over a pencil drawing. The idea of sending the photo was to show her that I was working on her project. I messed up by not telling her the reason I was sending these and that they were not finished.

Jane and her husband were very excited and chose the top view. Wait, what? These aren’t finished. I am so embarrassed to have sent them prematurely. (Texting is a dangerous form of communication).

The good news is that the top view was also my favorite. (The other good news is that Jane laughed when I told her that I was embarrassed.)

Then we had to decide pencil drawing or oil painting.

Tomorrow, oh patient (and impatient) Blog Readers!

Big Old Country House

A friend introduced me to his cousin. We became instant friends. Let’s call her Jane, because that is her name.

My friend and Jane’s shared grandparents had a wonderful home in the country south of Farmersville (Yes, that is the name of a town here in Tulare County. Wanna make something of it?) They both thought it would make a great drawing or painting, so I went there to take some photos. 

I love the style of this house! I took many photos, from every angle possible.

Want to guess which one I liked best?

Want to guess which one Jane and her husband liked best? (They are my customers for the project.)

Want to guess which medium they chose?

“Medium” means the substance from which I will make the art – pencil or oil paint, in this case.

Custom Pencil Drawings

A friend’s mom was visiting from Georgia. She brought me these photographs.

Each one is the only existing photo of a house that no longer stands.

Each one will become a 9×12″ drawing.

Each drawing will be better than the photo, at least that is always my goal. 

There will be no visible wrinkles either.

 

Done Painting

Done painting for now. It is hot in the painting workshop (in spite of the roaring swamp cooler) and there are mosquitos, and there are no painting jobs with a deadline.

Excuses? 

Yes. I’d rather draw.

Besides, I have 4 new pencil commissions. More tomorrow about that.

Here are the last things I worked on with paint. (Could have been the frustration of working with acrylic that made me put my paints away for now.)

Look at the cute little oil painting alongside the giant acrylic painting, leaning up against the workshop doors. Three sizes of redwood paintings, none of them anywhere near the reality of the big trees in person.

I found my old photos of sunflowers in order to add realistic leaves. It needs more leaves, and all need to be larger so there is less blank space around. Maybe it needs another sunflower. 

But I’ll think about that another day.

Really Big Tree for Kaweah Arts

Today is the grand opening of Kaweah Arts! 

Kaweah Arts, 41841 Sierra Drive, 10-6 today

So, I painted a really big tree for them to sell.

The really big Big Tree is about 5 feet high by 16″ wide. It isn’t quite finished in this photo, because I wrote this post before “drawing” a few more details, signing, and painting the edges.

It is $250. Why so inexpensive? Because mural paints cost less, the wood panel was free (thank you, Trail Guy), and it is painted ever so much quicker than an oil painting.

Also because I use pencils, oil paint, and murals to make art that people can understand of places and things they love FOR PRICES THAT WON’T SCARE THEM.

Come see it at Kaweah Arts in Three Rivers today!!

P.S. It costs a fortune to have a transplant, and while insurance covers much, there is much that it does not cover. If you feel generous and inclined to help my friend, Rachelle, this is the best way to do so: HelpHopeLive.Org